At the beginning of the XVII century, in one of the investigated burials, an Italian traveler discovered exotic portraits that caused Europeans a real shock - they were so different from others.
Important historical find
However, the archaeological find of mummies in 1887 near the city of Fayum, populated in ancient times by the Egyptians, gained real fame. After the conquests of A. the Great, the Greeks and Romans took their place there. The funeral cult associated with embalming the dead is undergoing changes. If earlier the Egyptians laid various masks that were not realistic images of the deceased on the face of a mummified body enclosed in a sarcophagus, then local artists painted voluminous portraits with wax paints on a tree that is resistant to decay, sometimes on canvases that are pasted onto a plaque.
The Fayum oasis, which opened up unknown aspects of the work of ancient artists, gave the name to the picturesque images of the dead, who made a truly real cultural revolution at that time. Portraits trimmed to the desired size were attached to the head of the mummy: against the background of white bandages, as if from a window, a realistic image of the deceased person looked.
Paint Techniques
Artists used a special encaustic technique, which involved applying paints directly to a tree without first processing it. The Fayumsky portrait was an image of the deceased, which was applied with brushes and heated metal rods. This work was very laborious, requiring special skills, since corrections in the portrait were not allowed. Due to the high temperature, carefully prepared wax paints melted, forming an uneven surface during solidification, creating a volume effect. In addition, the craftsmen used gold sheets, emphasizing the background, wreaths on the head or any details of clothing.
Another technique used in the writing of funeral portraits of people is tempera. Images created on the basis of pigments mixed with animal glue were performed on a matte surface with brushes with less noticeable contrast of light and shadow. Scientists note the longevity of such images: Fayum portraits of Ancient Egypt from ancient painting are best preserved, and to this day they have survived without losing color brightness and not giving in to temporary changes.
Roman art image of the dead
We must not forget that the writing of ritual portraits was part of the tradition of the Roman Empire, only the images did not become part of the burial cult, and the images of the deceased ancestors and deceased emperors were kept in courtyards called atriums. The stylistic features were similar to the painting of Fayum portraits, however, archaeologists found a small fraction of the works of Roman art, but the ancient masterpieces of world painting of the Egyptians, according to scientists, reached their descendants in such good condition thanks not only to the unique technique of applying colors, but also to the arid climate of the country .
Similarity to icon painting
Portraits created thousands of years ago, which became a real miracle in world art, brought to the descendants living images of people. The unique images of the ancient Egyptians who lived during the time of Hellenism and Roman power did not just convey the appearance of a person. Huge sad eyes, looking through the observers, as if they see something that is beyond the control of the eyes of the living.
It is no accident that under the influence of such realistic images that are on the other side of life, canons of icon painting began to form. But do not forget that these are nevertheless ritual portraits, not intended for contemplation by the living, but they were created exclusively for burial, because the Egyptians always paid great importance to the afterlife.
Funeral portrait as a forerunner of icon painting
In the future, Byzantine icon painting is influenced by the work of ancient masters, writing on wood with wax paints and using the finest plates of gold leaf. A look at ritual portraits, directed to another world, gradually migrates to the religious art of Byzantium. According to the style, the Fayum portrait is considered to be a pro-icon, the funerary image is sad and is designed to preserve in memory the favorite features of a departed person. On the icon, life conquers death, and the face is turned to God, and the meaning of leaving is not in parting, but in the Easter joy of meeting. The artists seemed to peer into the soul, conveying not a momentary image, but considering it from the point of view of an immortal personality transformed in the light of eternity.
From realistic portraits to perfect looks
Researchers are convinced that all images were written from a living person, since access to the deceased and working with them were strictly forbidden by Egyptian masters. Therefore, the funeral portrait (Fayum) was ordered in advance, painted during his lifetime, he hung in the house until the death of a man. Some scholars have suggested that perhaps there were still images on papyrus, from which posthumous copies were made for mummies.
If we talk about the realism of the appearance of the deceased, then it is certainly deceiving, after all, these are extra-age images of a certain ideal image, as if frozen in eternity. Mummies are known, with funeral portraits of which were watched by young faces, although in reality people died at an advanced age. Byzantine icon painting moved from a real portrait to an ideal and eternal face, adhering to certain rules for writing holy images.
Stylistic changes
It is worth mentioning that with the development of Christianity in the writing of the Fayum portrait there are global changes, the image of a person is conceptualized in it, and the spiritual principle more and more prevails over the physical one. The creators of the Roman Empire are experiencing noticeable changes in the perception of the world, expressed in the conditional manner of performing the appearances; ascetic contours are preferred over volume.
The cult-bearing portrait of Fayumsky changes stylistically, reinterpreting the human image. Christianity, approved in the 4th century in Egypt, ceases the practice of embalming, and the encaustic technique is gradually forgotten along with the disappearance of burial images.
Features of ritual portraits
Based on the unwritten rules of painting ritual images, the following features are noted that characterize funerary portraits of that era:
- The light source is located on top, the right side of the face from the viewer is located in the shadow.
- The heads are turned by three quarters, direct images are practically absent.
- The gaze is fixed on top of the observers, and not in the eyes of the viewer.
- Emotions are not displayed on the face, wide-open eyes are sad.
- The background of the portrait is solid: either light or gold.
- Asymmetry of the left and right sides of the face (the corners of the lips, eyebrows, ears differ in angles and are depicted at different levels). It is believed that this new trend in painting was an attempt to convey the perspective of the depicted image.
Since the funerary portrait (Fayum) was painted during the life of a person and, possibly, was in his house for a long time, almost all painted on it appear as young people. After death, the image was embedded in mummy bandages, and a wreath of gold, symbolizing eternal life, was carefully applied to the head through a stencil.
Funeral portraits as a reflection of fashion trends
Burial images are a real art gallery, creating a unique atmosphere of each spectator's involvement in great art, giving aesthetic pleasure. From the Fayum portraits one can easily trace the Hellenistic fashion of that time. Men were portrayed in light robes, and women in red, white or greenish robes. Jewelry corresponded to a specific era, just like hairstyles. It was believed that the emperor’s family set a special style, inventing new ways of styling hair, especially for women, but in the provinces, fashion came from the capital extremely slowly.
Museum masterpieces of world painting
Scientists have no more than 900 Fayum portraits, which make an indelible impression and have become a completely independent category in art. It seems that even a small art gallery would dream of possessing the ancient treasure of the funeral cult of the ancient Egyptians. Such portraits are now very expensive at various auctions, and the interest of private collectors in ritual art is increasing every year. It is impossible not to mention the large number of fakes and copies, but skillfully made canvases in the style of funerary images do not follow the traditions of posthumous image depiction.
Some unique works that have survived to this day are now kept in the collections of large world museums, including in Pushkin. In the hall of ancient art, anyone interested in culture and painting will be able to see Fayum portraits of incredible depth of image transmission. The Pushkin Museum in Moscow stores more than 20 funerary images that even foreigners specially come to admire. The most famous portrait of a young man depicts a real handsome man with courageous facial features and eyes burning like embers. Its whole appearance suggests a hot temperament and wayward character, and the combination of contrasting colors as if pumps up internal tension.
Egyptian art will forever remain a true treasury of all times and peoples, and Fayum portraits, whose artistic significance is incredibly great, are rightfully considered genuine masterpieces of art. They can be called gates, which opened for future masters new ways of creativity, expressed in the creation of the Byzantine icon.